NOVEL WEB Chapter 153: Northern King, what do you make of this?
Under the impetus of Hong Qingyan, Ye Feng slowly approached the throne on the right side of the main hall, but he did not move over and continued to sit in his own wheelchair because he had grown accustomed to it.
The Southern King Dugu Ming, on the other hand, took his seat on the throne to the left, with the remaining five Domain Lords taking their seats below.
As for the Lord of Tiannan Region, Lio Nanba, whose Achilles tendons had been severed causing him great pain that made him clench his teeth and shudder, he still forcibly bore the pain without daring to cry out or even think about leaving. He knew that if he left, he would likely never be able to reclaim his position as the Lord of Tiannan Region.
One of the Domain Lords thought for a moment before mustering the courage to speak up, "May I ask the Southern and Northern Kings, we several Domain Lords have been waiting for more than ten days, what exactly is the urgent military affair?
Recently in the Southern Border, there seem to be no signs of harassment from neighboring countries, nor any offense from enemy nations, yet we don't know what the urgent military affair might be?"
The other Domain Lords also nodded in agreement, each filled with doubt in their hearts. The Southern Border had been too peaceful lately for there to be any significant military affairs.
Ye Feng turned to look at Dugu Ming beside him, indicating that he should speak, as it was more appropriate for the Southern King to speak in such a situation. Moreover, since they were in his base camp, he needed to consider Dugu Ming's dignity.
Southern King Dugu Ming just smiled slightly and said, "I have been in secluded cultivation for too long, and in these years, I have not been well-informed about the outside world. Let the Northern King speak."
Ye Feng nodded and then said, "As you all must know, the Southern Territory is faced with two predicaments. One is an external element, represented by the Brahma Kingdom and the Ancient Yue Kingdom, both of which have been eyeing us covetously. The other is an internal element, which I presume everyone is aware of without me needing to elaborate, right?"
One of the Domain Lords nodded and responded, "Of course, we are well aware. The internal threat is, naturally, the Gu&Poison Sect within the Hundred Thousand Mountains of the Southern Border!"
"Indeed, it is the Gu&Poison Sect!" Ye Feng nodded slightly and continued, "The Gu&Poison Sect, hidden deep within the Hundred Thousand Mountains and skilled in the use of myriad poisons, has always been difficult to eradicate. Of course, if the Gu&Poison Sect remained secluded within the Hundred Thousand Mountains, it wouldn't matter much.
The important thing is, I have recently discovered traces of the Gu&Poison Sect in places like the Southern River Region Jiangnan."
"What? Traces of the Gu&Poison Sect have been found in the Southern River Region Jiangnan and other places? But Jiangnan is a major city in the Southern Territory. Could it be that the Gu&Poison Sect has even extended its reach to these bustling major cities?" An astonished Domain Lord exclaimed.
"Not only have they reached the major cities, but they even intend to use Gu and Poison to control the powerful families of these cities. So as long as the Gu&Poison Sect exists, it will be a significant threat to the Southern Territory and to the Xuanyuan Nation!" Ye Feng declared loudly.
Hearing this, the other Domain Lords nodded again and again, obviously despising the Gu&Poison Sect deeply. Despite their efforts to send out troops to subdue it over the years, with the natural advantage of the Hundred Thousand Mountains, it had always been difficult to completely annihilate the sect.
And it wasn't just these years; even in the previous century, the Gu&Poison Sect had caused chaos and misconduct in the Southern Territory.
It was said that at that time, a Supreme General of the Xuanyuan Nation had personally led an army to wipe out all the members of the Gu&Poison Sect in the major cities, but the part hidden deep within the Hundred Thousand Mountains could not be completely eradicated no matter what.
Ye Feng spoke in a grave tone, "The urgent military affair this time is to discuss how to exterminate the Gu&Poison Sect of the Southern Border!"
At this point, Ye Feng's gaze suddenly intensified as he asked, "I am really curious why, when the Southern Territory always has a Lord of the Nine Domains, only five have arrived for today's matter. Considering the importance of discussing military affairs, why are the other four Domain Lords absent?"
The five present Domain Lords, including the Lord of Tiannan Region Lio Nanba, felt a jolt in their hearts upon hearing this, suddenly realizing something was amiss.
In truth, they had already known about the absence of the other four Domain Lords but had not bothered to pay much attention. Over the years, with the Southern King showing weakness, these Domain Lords were indifferent about attending the annual main hall meetings, never really taking Southern King Dugu Ming seriously.
And this time, it was evidently the same!
Southern King Dugu Ming's expression suddenly darkened as he demanded, "Someone, call the person who delivered the King's Order to these Domain Lords to come here!"
Grand Commander Lan turned and walked out, and soon several guards entered, immediately kneeling halfway to the ground to salute.
Dugu Ming waved his hand and asked, "I want to know, was it you who delivered the King's Order to the Hundred Herbs Realm Lord, the Lord of Nan Dong, the Hengling Domain Lord, and the Lord of Yanshan Territory fifteen days ago?"
"Responding to the Southern King, it was indeed the four of us who went to relay the message!" the four replied.
"If it was you four who went to relay the message, then why have these four domain lords not attended? Were you able to deliver the King's Order directly into their hands?" Southern King Dugu Ming asked with a stern face.
"Replying to the Southern King, we indeed delivered the King's Order into the hands of the four domain lords. However, upon receiving the King's Order, they said... said..."
"Said what? Speak it out loud right now!" Dugu Ming ordered sharply.
One of the guards, with hands clasped, said, "Reporting to the Southern King, when we delivered the order, the Lord of Yanshan Territory claimed to be seriously ill and unable to attend, outright refusing on the spot. As for the Hundred Herbs Realm Lord, the Lord of Nan Dong, and the Hengling Domain Lord, they were all in the residence of the Hundred Herbs Realm Lord at the time.
Upon receiving the King's Order, they tore up the Summoning Order on the spot and even said the so-called King's Order was nothing they'd consider at all!"
The guard who spoke knelt on the ground.
"This is preposterous, truly preposterous! They show no regard for me whatsoever!" Southern King Dugu Ming raged with fury.
The few other domain lords witnessing this secretly exchanged glances, not daring to raise their voices openly. Yet each of their faces turned strange, as if they all agreed without speaking.
Clearly, they knew there was likely to be an interesting development to watch next.
Grand Commander Lan snorted coldly, "That Lord of Yanshan Territory is one thing; if he truly is ill and cannot attend, that might be acceptable.
However, the other three domain lords, the Lord of Nan Dong, the Hundred Herbs Realm Lord, and the Hengling Domain Lord, such matters of military command and king's summons, they dared to tear the order up and now outright fail to appear, this is simply a crime worthy of death!"
Li Jingang, Zhuge Yu, and Xia Lengchan all shouted angrily, "These three domain lords, usually in the Southern Territory's base camp, have always been arrogant and imperious, often reprimanding and punishing the soldiers at will. Now they openly defy the King's Order, they must be severely punished!"
Dugu Ming pondered, but found it hard to make a decision right then and there, as this matter involved three domain lords at once. To execute them directly might cause considerable unrest.
After a serious moment of thought, Dugu Ming was still undecided, so he turned his head to ask Ye Feng, "Northern King, what do you think of this matter?"
Ye Feng did not answer his question, and despite the fact that the other was the Southern King, Ye Feng did not reply but instead commanded, "Are the Four Great Protectors still at the base camp? Have them come see me immediately!"
The domain lords who heard this had their expressions suddenly change. The tone of the Northern King was truly not small, directly ordering the Four Great Protectors to come for an audience.
One must know that the Four Great Protectors were no ordinary individuals; they were the Protector Dharma Kings of the Southern Regions. Even the Southern King usually treated them with great respect, but here was the Northern King, not asking someone to invite them but directly commanding their presence. It was unthinkable that the Four Great Protectors would come.
However, it did not take long for the domain lords to realize they were mistaken. In less than half a quarter of an hour, a loud shout came from outside: "The Great Protectors have arrived!"